DETERMINATION OF CONTROL FACTORS AFFECTING THE PROBABILITY OF A SUDDEN OUTBURST OF COAL AND GAS IN A BREAKAGE FACE

Purpose. To establish priority (control) factors affecting the probability of a sudden outburst of coal and gas in a breakage face, which will allow making optimal technological decisions when mining outburst-prone coal seams. Methods. An integrated method that involves the use of energy-force models to assess the likelihood of sudden outbursts of coal and gas; application of simulation modelling to determine priority control factors; application of an algorithm for enumeration of discrete values for each parameter, to find the average value of the increment of potential energy in a unit volume of coal in the working area of the longwall machine; application of dynamic programming to substantiate technological parameters (seam thickness, web width cutter-loader, length of a breakage face, etc.) mining of outburst-prone coal seams. Results. A mathematical model has been developed for the excitation of a sudden outburst of coal and gas, based on the energy theory of the occurrence of a sudden outburst of coal and gas. According to this model, the main sources of energy leading to the destruction of the seam are the energy of elastic deformation of the coal seam, the potential and kinetic energy of rocks, the internal energy of free and desorbed gas. On steeply falling seams, additional energy sources are the gravitational energy (positional energy) of the coal seam. The developed model allows establishing priority control factors and study the patterns of their change. Based on the setting of priority control factors, it is possible to choose the optimal technological schemes for mining outburst-prone coal seams. Scientific novelty. The scientific novelty consists in determining the priority control factors that affect the possibility of a sudden outburst of coal and gas, as well as establishing the pattern of their change. For this, a simulation algorithm was developed, which made it possible to establish the essential parameters of outburst-prone coal seams. Based on the algorithm for estimating the probability of a sudden outburst of coal and gas, the optimal technological parameters for mining of outburst-prone coal seams (web width, length of a breakage face, rate of advance) were determined. Practical implication. It consists in creating a package of applications for the selection of treatment equipment in accordance with certain technological solutions. On the basis of the data obtained, the optimal technological schemes for the mining of outburst-prone coal seams are substantiated, and mechanization means are selected based on the application of a package of applied programs.